Unknown

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for moving a first furniture part in relation to a second furniture part, having two spaced-apart guide devices in which switching devices are provided. A closed position of the first furniture part is predefinable by way of the switching devices. Furthermore, connecting means for a coupled switching movement of the switching devices are provided between the guide devices. According to the present invention, in each case one carry-along element is provided on the guide devices and catching elements for the carry-along elements are present, wherein movements of the catching elements are coupled, wherein one carry-along element interacts with in each case with one catching element at least along one switching path of the switching device and wherein the carry-along elements are separated from the catching elements at least via a movement of the guide devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for moving a first furniture partin relation to a second furniture part, and a piece of furniture havingsuch an apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large number of apparatuses, by way of which furniture parts can bemoved in relation to one another on a predefined track, are alreadyknown from the field of furniture construction. For example, many areprovided for guiding the movement of drawers and similar pull-outfurniture components on a basic furniture structure. In order that, forexample, a drawer can easily be moved into a closed position or movedout of such a position, such guide apparatuses are frequently equippedwith pushing-out or retraction devices. Because these usually alsocomprise a switching mechanism for locking a closed position, they aredesignated switching devices in the following text.

Depending on the height/width ratios of a movable furniture part, forexample of a drawer, there is a more or less great risk of the piece offurniture jamming in the guide devices, as a result of which movementcan be hindered and a guide system may be damaged. For uniformdistribution of driving and closing forces, such devices are preferablyprovided on two sides of movable furniture elements. For a uniformpull-out movement of opposite sides of, for example, a drawer, aplurality of racks attached, for example, to the base can besynchronized via toothed wheels, which are coupled to a common rotaryshaft. However, such synchronization devices require a certain amount ofinstallation space and possibly even occasional cleaning andmaintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whichenables reliable opening and closing of a movable furniture part whilehaving a comparatively small space requirement.

The present invention proceeds from an apparatus for moving a firstfurniture part in relation to a second furniture part, wherein theapparatus has two spaced-apart guide devices in which switching devicesare provided. A closed position of the furniture part is predefinable inthis case by way of the switching devices. In addition, connecting meansfor a coupled switching movement of the switching device are providedbetween the guide devices.

The core of the present invention consists in that in each case onecarry-along element is provided on the guide devices, in that catchingelements for the carry-along elements are present, wherein movements ofthe catching elements are coupled, wherein one carry-along elementinteracts with, in each case, one catching element at least along oneswitching path of the switching device and wherein the carry-alongelements are separated from the catching elements at least via amovement, in particular a pull-out movement, of the guide devices.

During the installation of guide devices, care is generally taken toensure that, for example, left-hand-side and right-hand-side guidedevices and the switching devices thereof are attached and setsymmetrically. In use, forces can act asymmetrically on the furniturepart and can lead to an offset between switching elements. The presentinvention is based on the finding that synchronization between switchingdevices, for example, of a left-hand and right-hand guide device of, forexample, a drawer is in many cases necessary only in the region of theswitching path of the switching devices, in particular for switchingoperations for locking and unlocking the closed position. In this case,it is sufficient for interaction between the carry-along elements andthe catching elements to be limited substantially to the region of theswitching path and for the synchronization elements, such as thecarry-along elements and the coupled-together catching elements, to haveno influence on movements of the furniture parts with respect to oneanother in the region of a pull-out movement away from the switchingpath.

This affords the advantage that the first furniture part can be movedover a usually longer path of a pull-out movement without beinginfluenced by synchronizing elements and thus without the frictionalcontribution thereof, while movements are coupled on both sides ofinteracting switching elements over a comparatively short switchingpath. Because a synchronizing coupling is provided substantially in theregion of a switching path, the catching elements and the carry-alongelements can be formed in a comparatively space-saving manner.

The guide devices may comprise two or more rails and can be configuredas, for example, a full-extension mechanism. The switching devices maybe opening devices, in particular pushing-out devices, for example,touch-latch units. Furthermore it is possible for the switching devicesto be closing devices, in particular automatic retraction units. In thiscase, the switching devices can support switching operations by way ofwhich the first furniture part can be unlocked from a predefined closedposition. Similarly, the first furniture part can be lockable in apredefined closed position of the switching operations by way of theswitching devices.

Preferably, the switching device is formed such that the switching pathfor a switching operation is comparatively short compared with the pathof a pull-out movement. As a result, a comparatively compactconstruction of the carry-along and catching elements is advantageouslypossible.

Bearing means for at least one of the catching elements preferablycomprise an attachment element for attaching to a guide device, inparticular on a switching device. This advantageously makes it easier tomount and adjust the apparatus according to the present invention.

On account of manufacturing tolerances, by attaching the guide devicesto the furniture parts it is also possible for the switching devices onboth sides of a movable furniture part to be offset with respect to oneanother in relation to the movement direction of a pull-out movement. Inorder to be able to compensate for positional deviations, for example,with respect to movement-limiting stops, the switching devicespreferably have one or more positionable parts. In order to transferpositional corrections to synchronizing elements, too, in particular toat least one of the catching elements, it is preferred for theattachment element to be fixable on a positionable part of the switchingdevice. By way of the positionable part, a closed position can be set onthe switching device. Furthermore, a positionable part can be used foradaptation to, for example, a switching path and, for example, to aswitching position of the switching device.

Since a housing, which is provided, for example, for protecting movableparts, is comparatively stable and usually provides a plurality ofattachment positions, the positionable part of the switching device ispreferably a housing, which surrounds in particular at least a part ofthe switching device.

Furthermore, it is preferable for the attachment element to beattachable in a detachable manner. In this case, for example, abasic-furniture-structure rail may be provided for attaching theattachment element. In particular, the attachment element is attachablewithout tools, as a result of which subsequent installation of thecatching elements is more easily possible.

The catching element can have, for example, a lever, which can be foldedover by a carry-along member. In a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the catching element comprises a rotary disk because acomparatively reliable and stable catching region for a carry-alongelement can be formed thereon.

Preferably, a catching slot for the carry-along element is provided inthe catching element, such that the carry-along element is producibleand attachable in a comparatively simple manner, for example, as a hookor, for example, as a carry-along pin.

In order that comparatively strongly offset movements of the carry-alongelements between, for example, two sides can be synchronized, it ispreferred for the catching slot to have in a catching position of thecatching element, a section which extends parallel to the movement ofthe carry-along element. As a result, it can be ensured that, when acatching element is activated by a carry-along element, the carry-alongelement on the other side is likewise already located in the respectivecatching element.

Preferably, first movement-limiting stops, by way of which a catchingposition of the catching element is predefined, are formed on thecatching element and on the bearing means. In this case, the catchingelement may be subjected to a spring force which can hold the catchingelement in a catching position. Preferably, spring elements and thefirst movement-limiting stops are present on catching elements of aplurality of guide devices, for example, on both sides of, for example,a drawer, in order to increase the reliability of synchronization.

Furthermore, it is preferred for at least one movement-limiting stop, byway of which a movement of the catching element is limitable when thecarry-along element carries the catching elements during a switchingmovement, to be formed on the catching element and on the bearing means.As a result, in particular when the catching element is under springforce, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the carry-alongelement is able to leave the catching element in a position which makesit impossible for the carry-along element to be received in the catchingelement again.

Preferably, a switching position of at least one of the switchingdevices is settable parallel to the traveling movement of the firstfurniture part. Likewise, it is preferred for a closed position and/or aswitching path of at least one switching device to be settable parallelto the traveling movement of the first furniture part. As a result, theswitching devices can be adapted to, for example, movement-limitingelements, for example, stops, and positional differences, for example,of the guide devices on account of manufacturing tolerances canadvantageously be compensated.

A piece of furniture having an apparatus according to the presentinvention in at least one of the abovementioned embodiments can beoperated in a comparatively reliable manner and as a resultadvantageously increases the reliability in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in the following text by way of aplurality of exemplary embodiments with the aid of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture having a guidesystem according to one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the synchronization device of a guidesystem according to one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a catching unit of one embodiment ofthe present invention,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of a guide system accordingto the present invention,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of a guide system accordingto the present invention,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of a detail of a furtherembodiment of a guide system of the present invention,

FIG. 7 shows a schematic, perspective view of a bearing block of thefurther embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspective view of a guide device having acatching unit in another embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 9 shows a schematic, perspective view of a catching unit and aswitching device in the another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a detail of a piece of furniture 1 in the form of a drawercompartment. A rear wall element 2 a, and a left-hand and a right-handside wall element 2 b and 2 c, a base panel element 2 d and also twotransverse struts 2 e and 2 f attached in the region of a top edge ofthe side wall elements 2 b and 2 c surround a space which is providedfor a drawer (not shown).

The compartment bounded by the panel elements 2 a to 2 f is equippedwith a guide system 3 according to the present invention, which consistsof a left-hand side guide device 4 a, a right-hand side guide device 4 band also a synchronization device 5.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of parts of the synchronization device 5in detail. A left-hand side catching unit 6 a and a right-hand sidecatching unit 6 b are connected together via a coupling shaft 7. Each ofthe catching units 6 a, 6 b comprises a catching element 12, which isrotatably mounted in a bearing block 11 by way of a pivot pin 15. Thepivot pin 15 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the couplingshaft 7 via a coupling piece 9, such that rotary movements of the, forexample, left-hand side catching unit 6 a or the catching element 12thereof can be transferred without delay to the catching element 12 ofthe, for example, right-hand side catching unit 6 b.

FIG. 3 shows a left-hand side catching unit 6 a of a guide system 3according to the present invention. The catching unit has a bearingblock 11 which is fastened to a mounting plate 14. In order to attachthe mounting plate to a left-hand side guide device 4 a, the mountingplate 14 has two bores 14 a by way of which the mounting plate 14 can befastened to a guide device 4 a. By way of the bearing block 11, acatching element 12 is rotatably mounted by way of a pivot pin 15. Thecatching element 12 is in the form of a cylindrical circular disk, fromthe lateral surface of which catching slots 13 have been cut out. Thepivot pin 15 has an asymmetrical section 15 a, by way of which the pivotpin 15 can be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a couplingshaft.

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a guide system 3 according to the presentinvention having a right-hand side guide device 4 b and a right-handside catching unit 6 b. A bearing block 11 of the right-hand sidecatching unit 6 b is fastened by way of a mounting plate 14 on abasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a of the guide device 4 b. A catchingelement 12 is rotatably mounted in the bearing block 11 by way of apivot pin 15 and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to acoupling shaft 7 via a coupling piece 9. A drawer rail 16 c isdisplaceably mounted and guided on the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a. Fastened to the drawer rail 16 c is a carry-along member 8 in theform of a cylindrical pin, which can act on the catching element 12 in acatching slot 13.

A left-hand side guide device 4 a of a guide system 3 according to thepresent invention having a left-hand side catching unit 6 a is shown inFIG. 5. The left-hand side guide device 4 a comprises abasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a on which a drawer rail 16 c isdisplaceably mounted and guided in a displaceable manner via anintermediate rail 16 b, which is movable with respect to both rails. Ina rear region of the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a, a switchingunit 20, which may be, for example, a pushing-out unit, and the catchingunit 6 a are fastened to the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a.

A left-hand side guide device 4 a of a guide apparatus 3 according tothe present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 in an extended state, inwhich the intermediate rail 16 b and the drawer rail 16 c have beenextended telescopically. Accordingly, a carry-along member 8, forexample, a cylindrical pin attached to the drawer rail 16 c, is locatedat an appropriate distance from the catching unit 6 a. As a result itcan be seen that the catching unit 6 a is fastened to thebasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of a left-hand side guide device 4 a of afurther embodiment of a guide system 3 according to the presentinvention. In this case, a left-hand side catching unit 6 a is fastenedtogether with a switching device 20 on a basic-furniture-structure rail16 a with the aid of a mounting plate 14. As seen from thebasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a, the catching unit 6 a and theswitching device are offset further into the interior of a basicfurniture structure (not shown) than a drawer rail 16 c. As a result theswitching device 20 and the catching unit 6 a can be arranged in theimmediate vicinity of one other.

The catching unit 6 a comprises a catching element 12 and a bearingblock 11, on which the catching element 12 is mounted rotatably by wayof a pivot pin 15 in a cylindrical recess in the bearing block 11. Byway of a coupling piece 9, the pivot pin 15 is connected in arotationally fixed manner to a rotary shaft 10 which is provided forcoupling to a further catching unit (not shown).

Formed on the bearing block 11 are stops 18 which, together with stops17 of the catching element 12, limit the rotary movements thereof.Arranged between the bearing block 11 and the catching element 12 is aspring 19 which can be clamped between the two parts 11, 12 in order tohold the catching element 12 in a catching position, at least as long asa carry-along member 8, which is in the form of a cylindrical pin here,does not engage in the catching element.

The switching device 20 comprises a carrier element 25 in which acylindrical housing 23 of the switching unit 20 is embedded. Theposition of the housing 23 is settable parallel to the movementdirections of the drawer rail 16 c.

Formed on the bearing block 11 is a plate-like section 21, at the end ofwhich there is a bore 21 a. With the aid of a connecting element 22, forexample, a pin or, for example, a screw, the plate-like section 21 ofthe left-hand-side-catching unit 6 a can be fixed to the housing 23 andthus be coupled to a position of a settable element of the switchingunit 20.

A further way of attaching a left-hand-side catching unit 6 a to aleft-hand-side guide device 4 a is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, whichcorrespond to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8illustrates the view of an underside of the left-hand side guide device4 a, which comprises a basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a and a drawerrail 16 c. Attached to the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a is aswitching device 20 having a housing 23 which is accessible through arecess 26 in the underside of the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show only a view of an underside of the catching unit 6 a,and so only a pivot pin 15 and a mounting plate 14 of the catching unit6 a are discernible. Two brackets 14 c located in a parallel directionin succession are punched out of the mounting plate 14, wherein thebrackets 14 c curve out towards the top side of the mounting plate. Thebrackets 14 c are provided to engage in slots 27 on the underside of thebasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a, wherein the brackets 14 c areformed such that they engage through the slots 27 and in the process canengage behind the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a.

Formed on the mounting plate 14 are two bars 14 b and 14 d, which areprovided to engage in the recess 26 on the underside of thebasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a. The bar 14 d is bent twice and atopposite angles at its end. As a result it is designed to engage behindthe recess 26 in the basic-furniture-structure rail 16 a in order, forexample, to prevent the mounting plate 14 from being removed from thebasic-furniture-structure rail 16 a.

The bar 14 b of the mounting plate 14 is provided to fix the mountingplate 14 to the housing 23 of the switching device 20. For this purpose,two stops 23 a are formed on the housing 23. The bar 14 b and the stops23 a are matched to one another such that the bar 14 b can engage withnegligible or no play between the stops 23 a. The housing 23 has athreaded section 23 b. A screw cap 24 having an internal thread (notshown) is screwed onto the threaded section 23 b. By way of a screw cap24, a position of the housing 23 on the basic-furniture-structure rail16 a is settable along the longitudinal axis of the housing in theattachment (not shown) thereof and parallel to the direction of movementof the drawer rail 16 c. By engagement of the bar 14 b, settings of theposition of the housing 23 on the mounting plate 14 and thus on thecatching unit 6 a can be assigned.

A coupling rod 28 is movably mounted in the housing 23 and can be pushedout or retracted by an energy store, for example, a spring,accommodated, for example, in the housing 23. A switching mechanism (notshown), which predefines, for example, a closed position or switchingposition, can be accommodated in the housing. As a result of theengagement of the bar 14 b in the housing 23, the position of thecatching unit 6 a is coupled directly to the respective position of theclosed position or switching position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Piece of furniture-   2 a Rear wall element-   2 b Side wall element-   2 c Side wall element-   2 d Base panel element-   2 e Transverse strut-   2 f Transverse strut-   3 Left-hand side Guide system-   4 a Right-hand side Guide device-   4 b Guide device-   5 Synchronization device-   6 a Left-hand side Catching unit-   6 b Right-hand side Catching unit-   7 Coupling shaft-   8 Carry-along member-   9 Coupling piece-   10 Rotary shaft-   11 Bearing block-   12 Catching element-   13 Catching slot-   14 Mounting plate-   14 a Bore-   14 b Bar-   14 c Bracket-   14 d Bar-   15 Pivot pin-   15 a Asymmetrical section-   16 a Basic-furniture-structure rail-   16 b Intermediate rail-   16 c Drawer rail-   17 Stop-   18 Stop-   19 Spring-   20 Switching device-   21 Plate-like section-   21 a Bore-   22 Connecting element-   23 Housing-   23 a Stop-   23 b Threaded section-   24 Screw cap-   25 Carrier element-   26 Recess-   27 Slot-   28 Coupling rod

1. An apparatus for moving a first furniture part in relation to asecond furniture part comprising: two spaced-apart guide devices inwhich switching devices are provided, wherein a closed position of thefirst furniture part is predefinable by way of the switching devices,wherein connecting means for a coupled switching movement of theswitching devices are provided between the two guide devices wherein ineach case one carry-along element is provided on the guide devices andcatching elements for the carry-along elements are present, whereinmovements of the catching elements are coupled, wherein one carry-alongelement interacts with in each case one catching element at least alongone switching path of the switching device, and wherein the carry-alongelements are separated from the catching elements at least via amovement of the guide devices.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising bearing means for the catching element comprising anattachment element for attaching to one of the two guide devices.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment element isfixable to a positionable part of the switching device.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the positionable part of the switchingdevice is a housing.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theattachment element is attachable in a detachable manner.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catching element comprises arotary disk.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a catchingslot for the carry-along element is formed on the catching element. 8.The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the catching slot has, in acatching position of the catching element, a section which extendsparallel to the movement of the carry-along element.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein first movement-limiting stops, by way ofwhich a catching position of the catching element is predefined, areformed on the catching element and on the bearing means.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catching element issubjected to a spring force which can hold the catching element in acatching position.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein atleast one movement-limiting stop, by way of which a movement of thecatching element is limitable when the carry-along element carries thecatching element during a switching movement, is formed on the catchingelement and on the bearing means.
 12. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein a switching position of at least one of the switching devicesis settable parallel to the traveling movements of the first furniturepart.
 13. A piece of furniture having an apparatus according to claim 1.